<p>Considering two applicants, both Asians, but the first Asian, Andy, has wonderful ECs that makes him well-known around his community, or maybe to the city level vs another Asian, Felix, who won USABO or stuff like that and some other small awards but he’s participated in tennis and debate.
Who are you gonna pick for Harvard, assuming their scores are no less than stellar?</p>
<p>I’m going with Andy. Harvard wants more than test scores. </p>
<p>That, and Felix would be lowering my chances of getting in (MOSP, Scouting, random Phys/Chem/Bio stuff). =D</p>
<p>You are not considering what Harvard states is critical. What are the students’ “personal qualities”? With only the above info and assuming that grades and such were comparable, I would say Andy.</p>
<p>Andy! </p>
<p>10char</p>
<p>Neither (if they are from CA, CT, MA, MD, NC, NY, TX). Asian-origin peers who are
from these states seem head and shoulders above what you have described here.</p>
<p>The quality of commitment required (to be noticeable by a reader) should have
garnered national level recognition for Andy. Qualifying for the USABO is somewhat
humdrum at a school that gets applicants who win at the IBO? OF course if Felix won
gold at the IBO, he would have vastly improved his chances relative to other
Asians provided he does not come across as just a ‘memory-stick’ in his essays.</p>